For long Indian swimmers have been mere pushovers in international swimming competitions. Apart from Khazan Singh's silver medal at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games, no Indian swimmer has been able to earn laurels for the country.

But such persistent mediocrity does not indicate towards a paucity of swimming talents in India. India has produced some fine long-distance swimmers like Mihir Sen and Bula Chowdhury who have conquered the high seas in distant corners of the world.

India's pathetic show in competitive swimming can be attributed to a lack of scientific training methods and inadequate infrastructure. Unless the Swimming Federation of India wakes up from its deep slumber and makes an earnest effort, Indian swimmers will continue to languish at the rock bottom.